CHILLICOTHE (Ohio) – A
dangerous viral infection saw a dramatic spike in cases in Ross County
during 2014, according to year-end numbers from the Ross County Health
District.

Hepatitis C cases in the county jumped from 153 in 2013
to 234 last year – an increase of 53 percent and an all-time high
locally.

“This is easily the highest number of cases ever reported
to us,” said Kathy Wakefield, director of Public Health Nursing at the
Ross County Health District. “It’s very concerning, especially
considering how big of an increase it was in just one year.”